Articles in English

MALTA FEVER (Brucellosis) Adieu thou damned’st quarantine That gave me the fever and the spleen Return to scribbling or a book, Or take my physic while I’m able (Two spoonfuls hourly by the label), Prefer my nightcap to my beaver, And bless the gods I’ve got a fever. These verses are taken from Lord Byron’sContinue reading “MALTA FEVER – BRUCELLOSIS”

Symbolism in the Maltese  Megalithic  Temples Introduction There are on the Maltese islands some 26 megalithic sites, that are recognisable as having been used as places of worship, all dating back roughly between 3,800 – 2,500 BC. In many of these archaeological sites there were found multitudes of objects, many of which when in useContinue reading “Malta’s Megalithic Temples – part 2”

MALTA’s MEGALITHIC TEMPLES – part 1 Why were they built? Introduction There are on the Maltese islands some 26 megalithic sites, that are known as having been used as places of worship, all dating back to between 3,800 – 2,500 BC. Some of these temples are grouped in clusters of two or three, others standContinue reading “Malta’s Megalithic Temples”

PALAZZO FALSON (a.k.a.) THE NORMAN HOUSE Cover photo: Courtesy of Malta Tourism Authority (Peter Vaniscek) Amongst the many residential buildings of old in Mdina, none stands out more conspicuous in its elegance than Palazzo Falson, formerly known as ‘The Norman House’. This building boasts one of the oldest medieval architectural styles anywhere in Malta. DownContinue reading “PALAZZO FALSON – A Jewel of Mdina”

BRITISH MALTA During the 19th century The early years The British hoisted the Union Jack for the first time in Malta at Bieb il-Bombi, Floriana, once the French were forced into surrender on the September 5, 1800. The capitulation of the French, with full military honours, was signed by General Pigot and Captain George Martin, forContinue reading “MALTA in the 19th CENTURY”

MALTA in MEDIEVAL TIMES    Introduction – Early Medieval Times Malta’s medieval period is estimated to have spanned some 1,000 years, emanating some time around the mid-5th century AD.. By that time Roman dominion had waned and to all intents and purposes had just about evaporated from all over Europe and beyond. This was aContinue reading “Medieval Malta”

VALLETTA’S  PUTIRJAL  On Thursday, March 28, 1565, at 11.18 a.m., Grand Master Jean Parisot de Valette, while surrounded by his entourage and in the presence of the bishop of Malta, laid down the foundation stone that was to mark the start of a very ambitious project, the creation from scratch of a new capital city for Malta. ForContinue reading “Valletta’s Porta Reale”

The History of Coffee in Malta The coffee plant knows its origins in Ethiopia. During the fifteenth century, the plant began to be cultivated in Yemen and Saudi Arabia where coffee was roasted and served as a beverage that soon became very popular. From then on, coffee spread to Egypt and Turkey and the rest of the Middle East and eventually becameContinue reading “How Coffee Gained Popularity in Malta”

Earthquakes and Tsunamis in and around Malta It is not uncommon for earth tremors to be felt in the Maltese islands. Many pass unnoticed and are only registered by the University’s seismic measuring instruments (seismographs), because they are often of a low magnitude. However, over the centuries a number of strong earthquakes did occur that caused considerable damage, althoughContinue reading “EARTHQUAKES and TSUNAMIS”

MALTA as seen by  foreigners Malta, located as it is in the centre of the Mediterranean served many a time as a haven that provided a momentary respite for voyagers during their long journey across the Mediterranean and beyond. Some disembarked from their ship to explore the island in a span of a few hoursContinue reading “MALTA AS SEEN BY FOREIGNERS”

Maltese Food connected to the Catholic Calendar   Introduction It is essential for all humans to nourish themselves daily in order to maintain their healthy state of being. However, some of the world’s religions impose rules onto their faithful that dictate days of fasting during which one would abstain from certain essential foods. In former times,Continue reading “Maltese food and the Christian Calendar”

The Roman Inquisiton in Malta and its Palace in Birgu (Title page: Facade of the Inquisitor’s Palace. Drawing dated to c. 1860). Introduction The Holy See in Rome established the inquisition in 1542, with the papal bull, Licet ab Intitio, in retaliation against Protestantism and heresies created by individuals within the Catholic Church. Meantime, new variantsContinue reading “The Inquisition in Malta”

Introduction In April 1942,  the historic clock tower of Birgu (L-Arloġġ tal-Birgu), sustained heavy and irreparable damage during heavy bombing raids by enemy aircraft. What remained of it had to be dismantled never to be rebuilt. This unique landmark served as a watch-out post wherefrom warnings were sounded for the people of Birgu to flee from theContinue reading “The Clock Tower of Birgu”

  THE CART RUTS of  Malta   Among the large number of archaeological and prehistoric sites all over Malta and Gozo, none remain more mysterious than the fifty or so conglomerations of cart ruts, that total some 200 pairs. Each pair run in parallel channels for a certain length and then disappear, often without an explainable reason. Locations of the cart ruts Cart rutsContinue reading “CART RUTS”

   The  COLD WAR From Yalta to Malta Intro … The many decades following the Second World War were years full of international political  tension, caused mainly by the animosity between the two Superpowers, that is, the United States and the Soviet Union. In 1945, a disquieting agreement was reached during the Conference in Yalta,Continue reading “The COLD WAR and MALTA”

Battle of Lepanto 1571 and the Order of St John   Today is the 450th anniversary of the battle of Lepanto that took place on October 7, 1571. The battle has been called so after the homonymous Gulf of Lepanto, termed so by the Venetians who once controlled that enclosed sea (today known as GulfContinue reading “The BATTLE of LEPANTO”

How great was the Great Siege of 1565 ? The decision by the Sublime Porte to attack Malta was taken in October, 1564. By the early months of 1565, De Valette’s spies in Constantinope were sending information that an attack on the Maltese islands was imminent. The casus belli for such an attack has neverContinue reading “THE GREAT SIEGE – 1565”

Interest in Neo-classicism started in ernest as from the second half of the 18th century, especially after the discoveries of Pompeii and Herculaneum. All over Europe, but especially in Britain and France, there was a surge of enthusiasm in the purer form of Greek and Roman architecture. This simpler style which was much more austereContinue reading “NEO-CLASSICAL architecture in 19th century MALTA”

  In his Histoire de Malte, (published in 1841), Dominique Miège, the French Consul for Malta, gives a detailed description of the sea borne communication system that existed in the Grand Harbour towns, during his time in Malta. Miège compares the hustle and bustle of the traffic between the towns of the Cottonera and Valletta toContinue reading “SEA TRANSPORT BETWEEN THE HARBOUR TOWNS (1830’s)”

TRANSPORT in MALTA in the EARLY BRITISH PERIOD as recounted by Dominique Miège (1841) Dominique Miège was the resident French Consul to Malta in the early 1830’s and must have lived on the island for a total of some twelve years. He was a keen observer of the local scene and wrote on all informationContinue reading “Transport in early British Malta (c. 1830 – 1840)”

  Throughout the 19th century, the Maltese folk hardly had anything to feel happy about. What with a large percentage of them employed only sporadically, and hundreds others begging in the streets of the harbour towns? This not to mention the poor standard of personal health and the mortality rate amongst children, claimed to be theContinue reading “How the Maltese made merry in the 19th century”

MALTA’s WAR   THE APRIL BLITZ OF 1942   The ‘Battle for Malta’ in World War II commenced on June 10, 1940, once Mussolini declared war on France and Britain. Malta, then a British colony and a major military outpost in the Mediterranean, situated just 93 kilometres south of Sicily, became Mussolini’s most urgent target of choice. The morning following this declaration,Continue reading “MALTA’s BLITZ – APRIL 1942”

  WOMEN in MALTESE FOLKLORE  Myth or Cultural Legacy  by Rita Saliba *    If we think of folklore as customs and traditions, it takes us back to distant times when words were transmitted from one generation to the next. I have always considered folklore as built on cult, beliefs, superstitions; however, I believe that the roots ofContinue reading “Women in Maltese Folklore”

In his dispatch of 5 June 1941 to Malta’s Governor, General Dobbie, Churchill stated: ‘You may be sure we regard Malta as one of the master-keys of the British Empire’. Austen D., Churchill and Malta – A Special Relationship.   Once, Mussolini had declared war on France and Britain on June 10 1940, the MalteseContinue reading “CHURCHILL and MALTA”

Amongst the many illustrious visitors who set foot on Malta throughout the 19th century there were some very distinct men of letters. Whether their stay was a brief one or else of a longer duration, this was due to the tenure of Malta by the British, first as a ‘protectorate’ (from 1800 – 1814) andContinue reading “Lord Byron and Malta”

A *    B *    Ċ *    C *    D *   E *    F * Ġ *    G *    GĦ *    H *    Ħ *    I *    J *    K * L *    M *     N *     O *     P  *    Q * Continue reading “MAGI, KINGS or WISE MEN ?”

Aktar artikli mill-istess awtur  …  https://kliemustorja.com/ 1818 December 16    The first investiture into the newly established Order of Merit set up by the British Monarchy in April 1818, took place inside the Governor’s Palace in Valletta. The scope of the new Order was to honour British citizens who carried out exceptional service in the Mediterranean, suchContinue reading “DECEMBER – Events in Maltese History”

  Traditional Maltese  Spices and Herbs When it comes to distinguishing herbs from spices we tend to confuse which is which. Indeed, while both spices and herbs are derived from plants, each of the two is distinguishable in various ways by many. Some maintain that herbs are normally derived from the fleshy green parts of plants, while spices are derived from theContinue reading “Maltese SPICES and HERBS”

A *    B *    Ċ *    C *    D *   E *    F * Ġ *    G *    GĦ *    H *    Ħ *    I *    J *    K * L *    M *     N *     O *     P  *    Q * Continue reading “November – Malta’s triumphs and tragedies”

  A *    B *    Ċ *    C *    D *   E *    F * Ġ *    G *    GĦ *    H *    Ħ *    I *    J *    K * L *    M *     N *     O *     P  *    QContinue reading “Are the Maltese superstitious?”

A *    B *    Ċ *    C *    D *   E *    F * Ġ *    G *    GĦ *    H *    Ħ *    I *    J *    K * L *    M *     N *     O *     P  *    Q * Continue reading “The Sovereign Military Order Malta – history and present role”

  A *    B *    Ċ *    C *    D *   E *    F * Ġ *    G *    GĦ *    H *    Ħ *    I *    J *    K * L *    M *     N *     O *     P  *    QContinue reading “JEWS of MALTA”

Ikklikkja fuq waħda minn dawn l-ittri biex tidħol fil-paġni tal-Enċikopedija KliemuStorja … A *    B *    Ċ *    C *    D *   E *    F * Ġ *    G *    GĦ *    H *    Ħ *    I *    J *    K * L *    M * Continue reading “AUGUST  – Historic National Tragedies and Triumphs”

A *    B *    Ċ *    C *    D *   E *    F * Ġ *    G *    GĦ *    H *    Ħ *    I *    J *    K * L *    M *     N *     O *     P  *    Q * Continue reading “Historical Events – JULY”

A *   B *   Ċ *   C *  D *  E *   F * Ġ *   G *   GĦ *   H *   Ħ *  I *   J *   K *         L *   M *   N *   O *   P *   Q *   R *   S * T *   U *   V *Continue reading “Maltese Folk Tales – of Giants and Sultans”

A *  B *  Ċ *  C * D * E *  F * Ġ *  G *  GĦ *  H *  Ħ *  I *  J *  K * L *  M *  N *  O *  P *  Q *  R *  S * T *  U *  V *  W *  XContinue reading “It happened in June”

A* B* Ċ* C* D* E* F*Ġ* G* GĦ* H* Ħ* I* J* K*L* M* N* O* P* Q* R* S* T* U* V* W* X* Ż* Z* The Great Siege of 1565 – On 18th May 1565, a gargantuan Ottoman fleet made up of some 130 galleys and more than two hundred smaller vessels approached Malta’sContinue reading “It happened in May”

Ikklikkja fuq waħda minn dawn l-ittri biex tidħol fil-paġni ta’ din il-website: Enċikopedija KliemuStorja … A *    B *    Ċ *    C *    D *   E *    F * Ġ *    G *    GĦ *    H *    Ħ *    I *    J *    K * LContinue reading “Christian Names and Saints in 15th Cent. Malta”

A *    B *    Ċ *    C *    D *   E *    F * Ġ *    G *    GĦ *    H *    Ħ *    I *    J *    K * L *    M *     N *     O *     P *    Q * Continue reading “HOLY WEEK in BIRGU”

The Wignacourt Aquaduct inaugurated – April 21, 1616  When Valletta was being built, the Order of St John had ensured that its population would have its essential supply of water. All houses, palaces, convents and churches had their own wells dug out underneath their edifices. Numerous large collective cisterns were also dug out at various locationsContinue reading “It happened in April”

A *    B *    Ċ *    C *    D *   E *    F * Ġ *    G *    GĦ *    H *    Ħ *    I *    J *    K * L *    M *     N *     O *     P  *    Q * Continue reading “IT HAPPENED IN MARCH”

  A *   B *   Ċ *   C *   D *   E *   F * Ġ *   G *   GĦ *   H *   Ħ *   I *    J *    K * L *   M *    N *    O *    P *    Q *    R *    S *  TContinue reading “A brief history of Carnival in Malta”

ENĊIKLOPEDIJA  A*  B*  Ċ*  C*  D*  E*  F* Ġ*  G*  GĦ*  H*  Ħ*  I*   J*   K* L*  M*   N*   O*   P*   Q*   R*   S*   T*   U*   V*  W*   X*   Ż*   Z* The Flemish Tapestries Come to Malta In Malta there exist two sets of tapestries: those that grace the Small Council Chamber inside the Grand Master’sContinue reading “FEBRUARY events in history”

Ara aktar:  https://kliemustorja.com/a The  Earthquake of 11th JANUARY 1693 On 11th January, 1693, at 2 p.m., a powerful earthquake hit Malta. This earthquake is possibly the most powerful one ever to have been recorded in the history of the Maltese islands. The epicentre of this earthquake seems to have occurred in the southern region ofContinue reading “HISTORICAL EVENTS that occurred in JANUARY of past centuries”

A*   B*   Ċ*   C*   D*   E*   F* Ġ*   G*   GĦ*   H*   Ħ*   I*    J*    K* L*   M*    N*    O*    P*    Q*    R*    S*  T*    U*    V*   W*    X*    Ż*    Z* There exists a multitude of sayings that are referred to whenever sound adviceContinue reading “Humour in Maltese Proverbs”

A *    B *    Ċ *    C *    D *   E *    F * Ġ *    G *    GĦ *    H *    Ħ *    I *    J *    K * L *    M *     N *     O *     P  *    Q * Continue reading “AGRICULTURE in MALTA in the early 19th CENTURY – A detailed account by D. Miége”

  A*   B*   Ċ*   C*   D*   E*   F* Ġ*   G*   GĦ*   H*   Ħ*   I*    J*    K* L*   M*    N*    O*    P*    Q*    R*    S*  T*    U*    V*   W*    X*    Ż*    Z*   This is an article based from the detailed descriptive account ofContinue reading “The Prisons in Malta during the early 19th century”

  The Return of the Statue of Saint Lawrence to Birgu in 1944  –  A historical account by George Agius The attack on the HMS Illustrious On Thursday, January 16, 1941, at 1.50 pm, the Maltese islands suffered the first of a long series of bombardments by the German Luftwaffe. These very first air raidsContinue reading “Statue of St Lawrence is returned to Birgu”

Ara wkoll: A *    B *    Ċ *    C *    D *   E *    F * Ġ *    G *    GĦ *    H *    Ħ *    I *    J *    K * L *    M *     N *     O *     P  *   Continue reading “MALTA and the BAROQUE EXPERIENCE”

  A *    B *    Ċ *    C *    D *   E *    F * Ġ *    G *    GĦ *    H *    Ħ *    I *    J *    K * L *    M *     N *     O *     P  *    QContinue reading “The Maltese Falcon goes to Hollywood”

ara wkoll: A *    B *    Ċ *    C *    D *   E *    F * Ġ *    G *    GĦ *    H *    Ħ *    I *    J *    K * L *    M *     N *     O *     P *   Continue reading “The George Cross awarded to the Maltese April 15, 1942”

    ara wkoll: A *    B *    Ċ *    C *    D *   E *    F * Ġ *    G *    GĦ *    H *    Ħ *    I *    J *    K * L *    M *     N *     O *     PContinue reading “In Historic Terms”